Hi, I'm Shannon!
Your outdoor portrait photographerAuthentic playful vulnerability!
That’s what I love to capture…and that’s how I love to live my life.
I believe in following your heart, even if you don’t know where it is leading you.
I believe that aging is beautiful.
I believe that “imperfections” are beautiful.
I believe that true beauty comes from the light (and darkness) within us.
I believe that vulnerability is beautiful and is the key to connection.
My journey
I have never been one to follow the beaten path. I have always lived a little “differently,” and at times, that has not been easy. Yet, I am super proud of the life I have created. A life that is fueled by passion, experiences, love, creativity, connection with nature, and lots of adventure.
The journey to this point was definitely full of detours, but those detours led me to roads and paths I never knew existed. Roads and paths that I never could have imagined had I not taken those leaps of faith. Walking into the unknown allowed me to become who I am today. It allowed me to grow in ways I never could have if I had stayed where it was safe and predictable. And finally, it allowed me to find the courage to listen not to the opinions of others, but rather to the whispers of my own heart. It gave me the courage to pursue my love of photography and share this passion with you.
We are constantly bombarded with messages of how we are supposed to look and who we are supposed to be. As I get older I have grown tired of listening to those messages and have seen that they serve no real purpose in my journey. What is interesting is that the older I get the more confident I get. My body and appearance may not hold the beauty of youth, but it radiates a different beauty. A beauty that comes from a life well lived. A beauty that comes from living authentically and following my heart. A beauty that comes from all of the experiences that have brought me to this place. Ironically, it has been stepping in front of my own camera that has helped give me the courage and confidence to start truly loving and appreciating who I am. Many of these photo shoots take place while camping out in the middle of nowhere. I have no make-up, my hair hasn't seen a comb in days, and my body is covered in dirt from exploring...and yet, it is in these moments that I find myself at my most beautiful. Because in those moments I see my authentic self. I see a woman who loves life. I see a woman who has seen pain but who has overcome it. Photography has given me this gift...and it is my passion to give it to you.
I am proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams.
At 40+ I want to show people that:
You are never too old to chase your dreams.
Living authentically is beautiful.
You do not have to follow the path society has laid out for us.
You do not have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Aging is not something you have to fight. There is beauty in embracing all of the experiences, life, pain, and strength that has brought you to this point.
True beauty does not exist in youth, or perfect skin, or a perfect body. It exists in the heart and can be seen (and felt) by others when we are living a life of joy, authenticity, and finding the courage to love ourselves just as we are.
Fun facts:
Besides photography I have 3 loves in life: live music, being out in nature (hammock time!!), and travel (I’m always down to shoot anywhere you desire :))!
I have my hammock, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag, and pillow in my car 365 days a year just in case I get the urge to "keep driving" and get out into the "middle of nowhere".
I love learning languages. I like to say that my mind speaks English, French, and Spanish, but my heart speaks Portuguese. I think in a past life I was a Portuguese woman (how else can I explain my love for the Portuguese language and all things Portuguese!) :)
As a teen I had over 1000 fashion magazines warping the bookshelves in my bedroom. I was obsessed with all things fashion and photography.
I love yogurt covered pretzels (especially salted caramel yogurt covered pretzels).
I was once bit by a monkey.
Let's take a trip!
My Travel Dates
I have a serious case of wanderlust and am always on the move exploring this wonderful world we live in. Here you will see my planned trips, however, I am always willing to travel if you have a place you are wanting to shoot in.
TBA
